Chandler Parsons thinks Dwight Howard will leave the Rockets
The Dallas Mavericks were eliminated by the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night. With no first-round draft pick and a thin crop of free agents on the horizon, Dallas' short and long-term future looks bleak.
But there's one player who may be able to change all that: Dwight Howard. Dallas forward Chandler Parsons -- Howard's ex-teammate -- apparently agrees:
It's a little strange for Parsons to talk like this when he's also expected to opt out of his contract and become an unrestricted free agent this summer. There's a chance he already played his last game in Dallas. But going off these comments, there's also a chance he and the Mavs have already quietly started negotiating his next contract.
After losing out on DeAndre Jordan last summer, the Mavericks still find themselves in need of a (relatively) long-term option at the center position. They're desperate for someone who can withstand the rigors of an 82-game season, crash the glass, capably defend pick-and-rolls and provide space on dives through the paint.
Howard can be that guy, and Dallas would be wise to go hard after him this summer. Their options are limited, and over half the league has an abundance of cap space. To ensure that Dirk Nowitzki's final couple seasons aren't a total slog, adding a talented big like Howard is a smart move.
And with Rick Carlisle still on as head coach and a professional culture already in place, who knows how far they could go?
